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H 

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0 
0 

■ 

D   —    . 

0  — - 

4   

B 

3  = 
3  : 

8  : 

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r 


B7277me 

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UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


LAW  LIBRARY 


/;    -> 


Wisconsin    Free   Library  Commission 

Lkc.islative  Reference  Department 

Comparative  Legislation  Bulletin 

No  5 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


ERNEST  BRADFORD  SMITH 


MADISON  WISCONSIN 
APRIL  1906 


INTRODUCTION 

This  department  is  in  constant  receipt  of  letters 
from  city  officials  and  members  of  the  legislature 
relating:  to  municipal  electric  lighting.  It  is 
?>ften  asked.  "What  cities  have  municipal  plants?" 
*  ''How  many  exist  in  Wisconsin?"  "How  many 
exist  in  America?"  etc. 

This  pamphlet  has  been  conipiled  with  the  idea 
of  answering  these  questions.  The  statistics,  al- 
though not  complete,  have  been  gathered  from 
every  available  source.  A  bulletin  will  soon  be 
issued  upon  gas  plants. 

Charles  McCarthy 
Lcgislafk-e  Reference  Department 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


ERNEST  BRADFORD  SMITH 


Comparative    Legislation    Biu.lrtin  -  No  5  — April,   1906 

Compiled  \\  itli  the  co-operation  of  the  Political  Science  De- 
partment of  the  University  of  Wisconsin 


Wisconsin   Kukk  I^iniiAitY  Commission 

LEOISLATIVR    ItKFKItKSrE   Dep't 

.Makison   Wis 
I'.Mu; 


CONTENTS 


KKFKREXCES  3 

TNITKl)  STATES  :- 

Iiii-roiise    in    muuiciiKil    phiuts ■* 

Consolidation   ' 

t'hanju'es  from   innniiipal  to  private  ownership   V 

<"li:iii;ros  from   privato  to  niunicipal  owuciship    8 

In    small    cities    1- 

In    citit's   over   10,000   13 

Street   anil   eommereial   lightning   ^ 15 

Investment  and  income   16 

FOREIGN  COUNTRIES :- 

Canada    1^ 

England    1^ 

WISCO.VSIN:— 

Increase  in  municipal  plants   -1 

Cities  and   villafjos  having  municipal   plants    21 


REFERENCES 


Bk.mis,   E.   W.     Municipal    monopolies.     New    York,   IISIJ'J. 

("outaiiis  clinpters  on  tuiiuicipal  eloctric   lighting,   p.  55-:i8G. 

Central  Station  List,  March,  190b.     New  York,  1906. 

Kt'cord    of  Cmtral    Station    (•(iniiiniciit .    cniii'al.    oinc(.'r.s.    en- 
gines,  dynamos,   etc.      Data    lor    Maicli.    I'.mk!. 

Municipal  Year  Book,  1902.     New  York,  1902. 

Compili-rt    l).v    M.    N.    P.alior.    associate    editor    of    Engineer- 
ing  news.    .\e\v   York,      ("overs   tip    to   l!»(lli  :   gives   figures  only 

for  cities  aliove  .'Lhiki  popuiation. 

Municipal  Year  Book  of  the  United  Kingdom.  Loudon, 
190(;. 

('onii)iled    by   Itoluit    Donald. 

U.  S. — Census,   Bureau  of    the.     Special    roi^prt    on    central 
electric  light  and  power  stations.     Washington,  19it2. 
Gives  ligurcs  up   to  .lamiaiy  :;n.    I'.idl'.     IJest  of  its  kind. 

U.  S.— Census,  Bureau  of  the.  Statistics,  for  cities  having  a 
population  of  25,000.     Washington,  1905.     Bulletin,  no. 

20. 

(iives  figures  for  T.IU8  for  cities  over  :.•."», «juu. 

U.  S. — Labor,  Bureau  of.  Municipal  ownership  in  Great 
Britaii^  by  Frederic  C.  Howe.  Washington,  190ij. 
Bulletin,  no.  (52,  Jan.  190(j,  p.  1-12:!. 

I'lill    discussion.      I''avoral)le    to   municipal    ownership. 

IT.  S. — Labor,  Bureau  of.     Report  on  water,  gas  and  electric 

light  plants.     Washington,  i899.     Annual  report,  v.  14. 

P.ased   on   reports  from    <'i;;i'  ,>iit    oi'  a    total   of   •J,.')7L'   private 

l)l,i!its  and     .■'.Uii  out    of    4<Ui    ninnhipal     plants.    DSiLS-ltJ).      No 

li-ures   for   places  of  less   than   I.cmmi  po|inlation. 


UNITED  STATES 


Increase  in  municipal  plants 

The  electric  lighting  business  began  in  the 
United  States  about  1880 ;  in  Wisconsin,  in  1884. 
;5ince  that  time  there  has  been  a  great  increase  in 
both  the  number  and  size  of  electric  light  plants. 
The  following  table  shows  the  development  of  both 
private  and  muntcipal  plants  since  1881: 


t.EOWTH    IN    UNITED   8TATE3  OF  MDNICIPAL   AND   PEIVATE   ELECTRIC 

LIGHT  PLANTS'  (table  1) 


Year 

Municipal 

Private 

Total  no. 

Per  cent  of 

municipal 

plants 

18X1  . 

1 

16 
137 

:«() 

710 
815 
988 

no5o 

7 
151 

872 
1690 
2514 
[2805 
3076 
.3234 

8 
167 
ri009 
2076 
3224 
3620 
4064 
4284 

1SH5 

IS'.W 

1.V.I5 

1900 

9.5 
13.5 
18.5 
2"'  02  '"^ 

1<I02  .    

2^  5 

nn;  (S«pt.j'-' 

VMi\  (M-.ir.) 

24.3 
24.4 

'FiKuies  for  1881  to  liK)2  from  U.  S.  Census  ollice.  Special  report  on 
central  electric  lieht  and  power  stations,  l'.K)2.  p.  lOtJ 

^PiKures  for  19a5  and  lit0;J  from  Central  station  lists,  Sept.  li»05and  Mar. 
190t). 

From  this  table  it  will  be  observed  that  the  total 
number  of  electric  light  plants  has  grown  from  8 
in   1881  to   1284  in  March,  1906;  of  plants  owned 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHriXG  5 

by  conipanies.  partnerships  and  individuals,  there 
were  7  in  1881  and  3234  in  11J06 ;  of  plants  owned 
by  cities,  villages  or  other  municipal  corporations, 
there  was  1  in  1881  and  1050  in  1906.  The  num- 
ber of  municipal  plants  in  1885  was  nearly  lu  per 
cent  of  the  total  number ;  in  1895,  18>^  per  cent ;  in 
September,  1905,  somewhat  more  than  34  per  cent; 
a  proportion  slightly  increased  for  March,  1906. 

Carroll  D.  \\'right  reports  the  figures  for  1899 
as  460  municipal  and  2,572  private  plants ;  total, 
3032.  The  Census  bureau  report  for  1902  gives 
815  municipal  plants  and  2805  private;  total,  3,620, 

The  municipal  year  book,  1902,  gives  for  cities 
of  over  3,000  population,  a  total  of  1,471  electric 
light  plants,  of  which  278  were  municipal.  The 
Central  station  list,  1905,  gives  engineering  and 
commercial  data  for  984  towns  in  which  988  muni- 
cipally owned  electric  light  plants  exist ;  2,932 
towns  in  which  3076  plants  were  owned  by  private 
concerns ;  a  total  of  4,064  electric  light  plants  in  the 
United  States  in  September,  1905.  Six  months 
later,  March,  1906.  there  were  62  more  municipal 
plants  and  158  more  private  plants.  This  does  not 
include  companies  furnishing  power  only,  or  mill 
plants  lighting  a  local  mill  or  factory.  In  the  above 
municipal  list  are  included  five  plants  owned  by 
colleges  or  universities  and  supplying  light  to  out- 
side consumers;  and  a  few  plants  owned  by  cities 
and  leased  to  private  companies  for  operation. 

The  number  of  electric  light  plants  by  states  is 
as  follows : 


MUMCIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTIKG 


ELECTRIC   LIGHT  STATIO.VS     BV   STATES  —  UONICIPAL  AND    PRIVATE.    liOS' 

Itable  2) 


Municipal 

plauts 


Towns  where 

private  plauts 

exist 


Alabama      

Arizooa 

Arkaasas  

California    

Colorado  

Couoecticut 

Delaware 

Floriila 

iieorgia 

Idalio 

Illinois 

iDdiana 

Iowa    

lailian  territory 

Kansas  

Kentucky  

Liui-iaua 

Maiof        

Maryland 

Massaciiusets 

Micbi^an 

Minnesota 

Mis^i^sippi 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska  

Nevaiia 

New  Hanipsbire 

New  -lersey 

New  Mexico 

New  York. ..         

North  Carolina.     ..  . 

North  Dakota 

Ohio 

Oklahoma  territory. 

OreKon 

Pi'uusvlvaiiia 

Rhode  Island 

South  ("arolina 

South  Dakota  

Tennessee 

Texas  

Utrtli 

Vermont 

Virginia  

Washington  

NNc^t  Viri;inia 

Wisconsin  

Wyoming 


18 
0 
8 

13 
2 
6 
6 

10 

39 

9 

92 

61 

51 

0 

17 

13 

U 

3 

5 

23 
104 
82 
28 
51 
1 

14 

0 

3 

4 

0 

35 

24 

8 

101 

5 

10 

39 

1 

14 

9 

26 

9 

6 

12 

16 

11 

6 

46 
0 


Total  in  US l.O.y) 

Total  of    all  plants  in  U.  S.  lUOti 


25 
16 
42 
9-5 
53 
38 

4 

25 

42 

27 

271 

116 

138 

26 

62 

64 

20 

57 

28 

9i 

127 

65 

31 

78 

24 

57 

8 

45 

79 

13 

224 

32 

18 

1.53 

10 

48 

234 

10 

27 

25 

38 

170 

18 

39 

37 

54 

41 

120 

16 


Private 
plants 


3.080 


28 
17 
43 
106 
58 
38 
4 

26 

42 

28 

281 

124 

141 

26 

65 

64 

20 

63 

29 

95 

132 

67 

3.; 

88 

27 

59 

8 

48 

81 

13 

241 

34 

18 

165 

10 

48 

253 

10 

28 

26 

38 

174 

19 

39 

38 

58 

42 

123 

16 

3,234 
4,284 


'  These  figures  compiled  from  Central  station  list,  March,  liK)6 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  uGHTIKG  7 

It  is  (lifficull  to  keep  any  list  of  municii)al  plants 
up  to  tlaic.  because  new  plants  are  added  so  rapidly. 
During-  the  months  from  June  to  December,  1!J05, 
in  the  pages  of  the  Municipal  journal  and  engineer 
and  in  Municipal  engineering  were  given  the  names 
of  over  forty  cities  which  had  just  installed  or 
voted  to  install  municipal  electric  light  plants; 
while  in  as  many  more,  the  clerk,  or  mayor,  or  a 
committee  of  the  comicil  was  investigating  the  sub- 
ject. 

Consolidation 

Simultaneously  with  the  increase  in  the  number 
of  electric  plants,  has  come  a  consolidation  of 
plants,  the  absorption  of  several  small  companies 
into  one  large  concern,  and  the  lighting  of  many 
small  tow^ns  from  one  large  central  plant,  a  matter 
of  common  observation.  At  the  same  time,  there 
is  shown  a  tendency  to  combine  electric,  with  gas 
and  water  works.  The  Census  bulletin  for  1902  re- 
ports l,4r).")  central  stations  out  of  3.620,  40  per 
cent,  which  were  run  in  connection  Avith  water 
works,  gas  plants,  ice  manufactories,  etc. 

Changes  from  municipal  to  private  ownership 

Between  issl  and  l!i(i2.  13  plants  had  changed 
from  municipal  to  private  ownership.^  The  fol- 
lowing electric  light  stations  began  operations  as 
municii)al  plants,  but  ha\c  since  jiassed  into  private 
ownership : 


'T'.    S.     Census    office.     Special    rcpuft    fni    centr.'tl    electric    lijrlit 
niul  power  stations.  1!*<12,  p.  S. 


MUXICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


CITIE-J   WHICH     HAVE    CHANGED    FROM     MCNUIPAL    TO     PRIVATE  OWNER- 
SHIP (table  3) 


Alabama 

iDdiaaa  

Iowa 

Minnesota  ... 

New  York. ... 

Ohio 

Penns.vlvania, 

Texav  

Virginia  

Washington  . 


City 

Popula- 
tion 

Troy 

4,097 

Bourbon  

1,187 

Audubon 

Fulda' 

1,866 
886 

Waddington.. 

Xenia 

8,696 

Lehighton  ' 

4,6-29 

Honey  Grove 

2,483 

Itasca 

Buena  Vista . 

1,277 

2, .388 

Wytheville. .. 
Vancouver.  .. 

3,003 
3,126 

Chehalis'.... 

1,775 

Name  of  company 


Citv  Electric  Light  and  Water 

Plant  Co. 
Union  Water.  Light  and  Power 

Co. 
Audubon  Electric  Plant. 
Electric  Light  Plant  and  Water 

Works. 
Waddington      Electric      Light 

Plant. 
Peoples  Gas  and  Electric  Light 

Co. 
Lehighton   Electric   Light  and 

Power  Station. 
HoLey  Grove  Light  and  Power 

Plant. 
Hockoday  Brothers. 
Buena  Vista  Light  and  Power 

Co. 
Rrown  Electric  Co. 
City     of     Vancouver     Electric 

Light  Plant  Co. 
Chehalis  Electric  Light  Plant. 


'  Given  as  municipal.  liO'),  by  Central  station  list,  Sept.  190."). 

Changes  from  private  to  municipal  ownership 

Uf  the  81.3  municipal  plants  in  19U2,  G-15  were 
started  as  municipal  plants,  and  170  had  been 
<:hanged  from  private  to  public  ownership.  The 
.'^ninicipal  plants  in  the  following  cities  and  towns 
began  operations  under  the  ownership  of  indi- 
viduals, firms  or  corporations: 


MUNICIPAL  ELFA'TRIC  LIGHTING  9 

CITIES   WHICH     HAVE    CHANGED     FROM     PEIVATE    TO    MDNIOIPAL  OWNER- 
SHIP (1881-ltX)2)  (table  4;-' 


Arkansas  .. 
California 

Colorado  . . 
Delaware.. 


Florida. 
Georgia 

Illinois  . 


Indiana. 


Conway 

Alameda  .   . . 

Modesto  '  

Del  Norte 

Milford  

Newark 

FernaLdina.. 

Kissimniee. 

Ocala 

•  Albany 

Athens  ' .. 

Eastniap 

Gainsville  . 

GrifKn 

Moultrie 

Wasbington  . 

Chadwick 

Farmer  City. 

Flora    

Girard 

Hampshire  . 

Highland  

Kansas 

La  Grange'  .. 
Lockport    .. 

Fern 

Princeton , 

Rantoul 

Shelby  ville  .. , 

Toledo 

Waterloo    . . . 

Wheatou 

Anderson  

Ashley 

Attica 

BlutTton  

Cambridge  ..  . 

Uunkirk' 

East  Ciiicago. 

Irarrett 

Goshen  

Greenfield  . . . . 

Hobart 

KendallvilJe  . . 
Knightstowu 

Linton 

Lowell' 

Mentone'  .. .. . 
Mishawaka  .. . 
Mont  pel  ier. .. . 

Napauee 

Pern  

Portland. .     .  . 

Rockville 

Rensselaer.  . . . 


Pop.  1900 

2,0)3 

l)i.4«>4 

2,024 

70.-> 

1,213 
'<,24.5 
1,132 
3,:«iO 
4,. 506 
10, 24". 
1.234 

4,;i«2 

6,8.57 
2,220 
3.30O 
50.") 
1,664 
2,311 

1  .m\ 

7()0 
1,970 
1,049 
3,969 
2,6.59 
6,86:5 
4,023 
1,207 
3.. 546 
818 
2.114 
2,345 
20,178 
1,040 

3,oa5 

4,479 
1,754 
3,187 
3,411 
3.910 
7,810 
4.489 
1,390 
3.. 3,54 
1.942 
s3,071 
1,275 
757 
5,. 560 
3, 4a5 
2,208 
8,463 
4,798 
2,045 
2,2.55 


'  Seven  plants  given  as  private  by  Central  station  list,  Sept.  1905. 
'  Authority,  U.  S.  Census  office,  1906. 


10 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


CITIES   WHUII    HAVE  CIIANGtU   FRUM    PRIVATE   TO  MCNICIfAL  OWNERSHIP 

( 18M-1902 )— continued 


Indiana 


Iowa. 


Kansas  

Kentucky 

Loiii'^iana 

Maryland  

Massacliusotts 


Michigan 


Minnesota 


Mi'Ssissippi. 
Missouri.  .. 


Thorn  town 

Williamsport  .. . 

Wiuamac 

.Jonesboro 

AI>;ona 

Bloomfipld 

Fairfield 

Mount  Pleasant 

Newton 

Spencer  

Spirit  Lak^ 

Emporia 

Kuterpri>e 

O-aee  Cit> 

Si^neca 

Russellville 

Franklin 

Laurel 

Belmont 

Hin^ham 

Hudson 

Hull 

Middleboro 

Taunton  

Badaxe  

Charlevoix 

Chelsea 

("old  Water 

Crosswell 

Dowaeiac 

K'cauaba  

Hillsdale 

.lonesville 

Lansing 

Masim 

Meudon  

Monroe 

Niles . 

Pet^skey 

Sturgis 

Union  City 

Va.sshr , 

Alexandria  . .   . , 

Argyle 

Austin 

Blue  Earth  

Brainerd  

Hibbing 

Kasson , 

Long  Prairie  .. . 
New  Prague  . ... 

Tower 

Wadena  

Clarksdale  .   .. 
Fulton 


Pod 
i. 
1. 
1. 
1. 
2 
•) 

4," 

4, 

3, 

3. 

1, 

s 

1 

o 


1, 
2, 
2 
5' 

9 

5, 
5, 
1, 

6, 

31, 

1. 

2 

L 

6, 

4. 
9. 
4 
1 

19. 
1. 

0, 

4 

.'j 
2 

i 
1 


1900 
.511 
24.5 
684 
8.38 
911 
10.-) 
tJ89 
109 
682 
09.") 
218 
223 
200 
792 
^46 
.591 
692 
079 
117 
059 
454 
703 
8-5 
036 
241 
079 
6H5 
216 
600 
151 
.549 
131 
367 
485 
828 
777 
043 
287 
285 
465 
.514 
832 
681 
829 
474 
900 
.524 
4«1 
112 
385 
228 
366 
520 
773 
383 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


11 


CITIES  WHICH   HAVE    CHANGED  FROU    PEIVATB  TO  MUNICIPAL  OWNEE8IIIP 

(1881-iy02)-contiaue(i 


Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

New  York  

North  Carolina 

North  Dakota. 
Ohio 


Oklalioma 

Oregon  . .  

Pennsylvania.. 

South  Carolina 
South  Dakota. 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia 

Washington  . .. 


Wisconsin. 


Li'banon 

Pop.  1900 
2.125 

Pi)>rc6  City  

2.511 

RoUa  

1.600 

Slater  

2,502 

Miles  City 

Pawnee 

1,938 
1,9«>9 

Frankfort 

Rreenprtrt 

2, 6tU 

2.:«6 

Watervliet 

14,321 

Gokisboro 

Morgantown 

Reirisville 

1.93S 
3. 262 

Grafton    

Brarlford  

Rrerea 

2..37.S 
1,254 
2, 510 

Beverlv 

712 

Columbus  Grove 

1,9:« 

Greenfield 

3.979 
1.2C0 

Painesville  

5,024 

Plymouth 

1.154 

Trov  

5,881 

WfUston 

Stillwater     

8.045 
2,431 

Hill.-iboro 

9.S0 

Medford 

1,791 

Scio 

346 

Aspinwall 

1.231 

Millvale  

Tarentum 

6,736 
5.472 

Dillon 

Brookings  

1,015 
2.346 

Pierre 

Redfield            

2.:w6 

10.015 

Harriman 

3,442 

1  ebanon 

Morristo  wn 

1 , 9.56 
2.973 

i\f>wbern' 

1.4:^3 

Sherman 

Pa\ son   

10,243 
2.636 

Hardwick 

Bedford  City    

Front  Royal 

1,334 
2,416 
1,005 

Farmville 

Salem 

Cent'  alia 

Ellen  sburg 

2.471 
3,412 
1,600 
1,737 

Kent 

7.55 

Port  Angeles 

2.321 

Pullman 

1..30.S 

Tacoma          

37.714 

Havfield     

1.6V.I 

Cedarburg 

Florence 

1.626 
1..S24 

'  Seven  plants  given  as  private  by  Central  station  list,  Sapt..  190.5. 


12 


Ml'XICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


CITIES  WHICH    HAVE  CHANGED   FEOM  PRl  VATE  TO  MUNICIPAL   OWNEESHIP 

(lssi-iy02;— coatiQued 


Wisconsin 


Fort  Atkinson. 

Jet^e^^on 

New  Richmond 
Oconomowoc  .. 

Ply  ni  on  til 

Two  Rivers 


Pop.  1900. 
3.043 
2,.%4 
1.631 
2.880 
2,237 
3,784 


In  small  cities 

The  great  majority  of  all  the  electric  light  plants, 
private  as  well  as  municipal,  are  located  in  small 
cities. 

Of  a  total  of  3,62U  plants  in  VJU2,  ^,714  were  in 
cities  of  less  than  5,000  population ;  of  the  2845  pri- 
vate plants,  2.043  or  72  per  cent;  and  of  the  815 
municipal  plants,  671  or  82  per  cent  were  in  cities 
of  less  than  5,000.  In  1899,  in  places  of  less  than 
1,000  population,  there  were  located  9  per  cent  of 
the  2572  private  plants  and  9  per  cent  of  the  560 
municipal  plants.  In  1906,  this  number  had  in- 
creased to  about  15>4  per  cent  for  municipal  plants, 
and  more  than  19  per  cent  for  private  plants,  as 
shown  by  the  following  table,  compiled  from  the 
Central  station  list  for  March.  1906: 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


i:{ 


PE1V.\TE  AND   MONICIPAL    PLANTS   IN   SMALL    AND  LARGE  CITIE3  (table  5 


Municipal 
plants 

Per  cent. 

Private 
plants 

Per  cent. 

VillaKes    of    less     than     1,000 

160 

808 
73 

15.4 

77.6 
7.0 

100 

592 

2,160 
328 

19  3 

Towus  of  1  OOO-IO.OOO    popula- 

tioc. ..          

Cities  of  over  10,000  population 

70  1 
10  fi 

Total  number  of  places.. 

1.041 

3,080' 

100 

'Some  cities  have  two  or  more  private  plants,  making  the  total 
number  of  private  plants  3.2S4.  while  the  total  number  of  cities 
anil  villages  having  pri\at(i  plants  is  3,0S0. 

It  is  evident  from  these  figures,  that  the  towns  of 
less  than  1.000  inhabitants  have  a  little  larger  pro- 
portion of  private  plants.  But  the  strength  of  the 
municipal  ownership  movement  is  in  the  cities  of 
from  1,000  to  10.000  population,  77.6  per  cent  of  all 
places  having  municipal  plants  being  included  in 
these  limits.  Seven  per  cent  of  all  the  places  hav- 
ing municipal  plants  were  of  more  than  10.000 
population,  against  10  per  cent  for  private  plants. 
In  seventy  cities  there  were  in  1005.  both  a  muni- 
cipal and  one  or  more  private  plants. 

In  cities  over  10,000 

The  following  table  gives  the  list  of  cities  of  over 
10.000  population,  which  have  municipal  electric 
light  plants   (1906).: 


14 


MUXICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


CITIES  OF  OVER    10  000    POPCLATION    CONTAINING     MUNICIPAL     ELECTRIC 
LIOUT   PLANTS— BY   STATES  (table  6) 


ArkaD:<as  .. 
California  . . 
•^'onnecticut 

Florida     .   . 
Illinois 


Iniiiana 


Iowa 

Kansas  

Kentucky 

Maine  

Maryland 

Massacbusetts 


Michigan. 


Missouri  . 

Nebraska 
New  York 

Ohio  . 


Little  Rock. 

.Vlameda  . 

New  Britain 

Norwich 

Jacksonville. 

Aurora. 

Bloomington . 

Chicago  (4  plants) 

Decatur 

Elgin. 

Jacksonville. 

La  Salle 

(ialesburg  .    ... 

Anderson 

Hammond 

Huntington 

Logansport 

Marion 

Muncie 

Richmond 

Indianapolis  .. 
Marshalltowu 

Topeka  

Henderson 

Owensboro. .. ., 

Paducah 

Baneor 

Lewiston 

Cumberland  . .. 
Hagerstown  . .. 

Chicopee 

Holyoke 

P.abodv  

'i'aunton 

Westfleld 

Bay  City 

Detroit  

Grand  Rapids  . 
Kalamazoo    . . . 

Laiisine 

Marijuette  . 
We.-^t  Bay  City. 

Haumbal 

Joplin 

rit.  Jo>eph 

St.  Louis  

Lincoln 

Dunkirk 

Jamestown  .... 

Watervliet 

Ashtabula  

Columbus 

Hamilton 

Marietta 

Newark 


V, 
10, 
18, 
20, 
12, 
19, 
16, 
17. 
21, 
IS, 
170, 
U. 

10, 

13, 

19, 

21. 

23, 

17, 

13. 

19, 

4.") 

12 

31, 

10, 

•) 

285. 
87. 
24 
19, 
10, 
13, 
12, 
26, 

m 

.")7.) 
40, 
11 
23 
14, 
13, 

125, 
23, 
13, 
18 


.  1900 

300 

3.50 

000 

250 

400 

000 

000 

000 

700 

400 

000 

000 

600 

000 

400 

500 

200 

300 

000 

200 

000 

000 

700 

200 

200 

400 

8.50 

760 

100 

600 

170 

700 

000 

000 

000 

600 

000 

.500 

400 

')U0 

0,50 

120 

800 

000 

000 

200 

100 

600 

000 

300 

000 

560 

000 

350 

1.50 


MUNICIPAL  EljECTRIC  LIGHTING 


15 


CniES  OF  OVER   10,000    POPULATION    CONTAININU    MONICll'AI,     ELECTRIC 
LIGHT   PLANT8— BY  STATES— continued 


Pennsjlvania. 


South  Dakota. 
Tennessee  .   ... 


'J'exas 


Vermont 
Virginia  . 


Washington  . .. 
West  Virginia. 


.AlJegheny  

Chanibersburg 

Eastou 

Meadville  ... 
Norristown  .    . . 
Sioux  Falls.. .. 

Nashville 

Jackson   

Austin 

Fort  Worth... 

(ialveston 

Sherman 

Biirlincton 

Alexandria 

Danville 

Seattle 

Tacoma   

Wlieeling    


Pop 

130 
10, 
25, 
10, 
22, 

To! 

NO, 

14, 

22, 

27', 

37. 

10, 

18, 

U, 

16. 

80, 

37 

38 


.  1900 

,noo 
,ouo 
,200 
,200 
,200 

,260 

,8tM 

.00 
250 
700 
800 
40 
640 
500 
.500 
670 
700 
880 


Total,  73  plants.     (Population  given  in  round  numbars,  from  the  census 
figures  for  1900J 

The  following  states  contain  no  cities  of  over  10,000  pop- 
ulation having  municipal  electric  light  plants.  Alabama, 
Arizona.  Colorado,  Delaware,  Georgia,  Idaho,  Indian  Terri- 
tory, Louisiana.  Minnesota,  Mississippi,  Montana,  Nevada, 
New  Hampshire.  New  Jersey,  New  Mexico,  North  Carolina, 
North  Dakota.  Oklahoma,  Oregon,  Rhode  Island.  South 
Carolina,  Utah,  Wisconsin  and  Wyoming. 


Street  and  commercial  lighting 

City  plants  are  furnishing  coniniercial  as  well  as 
street  lighting.  I*Vom  the  following  table  it  is  seen 
that  one-half  of  the  municipal  stations  in  1902  fur- 
nished commercial  arc  lighting  while  more  than 
seven-eighths  furnished  commercial  incandescent 
lighting;  four-sevenths  of  the  private  plants  fur- 
nished commercial  arc  lighting  and  practically  all 
(fifty-five-fifty-sixths)  furnished  commercial  incan- 
descent  lighting.        Tn    1003  all   but   77  of  the  815 


IG 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


municipal  plants  sold  current  to  private  consumers. 
(The  total  number  of  private  stations  was  2805, 
and  of  municipal  stations  815)  : 

CHAKACTEE  OF  SERVICE  (1902)  (table  7;' 


Arc  lighting 
Commercial  or  other  private  .. 
Public  (street,  etc.) 


Incandescent: 
Commercial  or  other  private 
Public 


Motor  power— stationary. . 
Electric  Ry 

All  other  service 


Private 
stations 


1,667 
1,810 


1,889 

975 
l.J7 

152 


Municipal 
statiout: 


Total. 


3.53 
712 


732 
602 

118 
o 


2.020 
2.522 


3,484 
2.491 

1.093 
1.59 

161 


(   '  U.  S.  Census  oflice.    Report  on  central  electric  lieht  and  power  sta- 
tions. 1902  p.  11. 

Investment,  income  and  prices 

Investment.  The  amount  invested  in  private 
plants  has  been  and  is  much  greater  than  that  in 
muncipal  plants.  The  figures  given  for  1899  by 
Carroll  D.  Wright  were  in  round  numbers,  $265,- 
182,000  invested  in  private  electric  light  plants,  com- 
pared with  $12,902,000  in  municipal  plants;  the 
value  of  the  electricity  sold,  was.  for  private 
plants,  $56,490,000  and  for  municipal  plants, 
$3,531,000.  That  is,  the  investment  in  municipal 
plants  in  1899  was  about  one-twentieth  of  the 
investment  in  private  plants,  while  the  product  was 
a  little  less  than  one-seventeenth.  In  1902,  the  Cen- 
sus bureau  reported  an  investment  (cost  of  con- 
struction and  equipment)  of  $482,700,000  in  round 
numbers    for    private    plants,    and    $22,000,000    for 


MUMCIPAL  ELEClh'lC  LIGHTIXG 


17 


imiuicipal  plants;  with  a  gross  income  of  $78,700,- 
•  Hio  for  private  and  $6,965,000  for  municipal  plants. 
That  is,  in  1902  the  amount  invested  in  municipal 
plants  was  still  about  one-twentieth  while  the 
value  of  the  product  was  about  one-eleventh. 

INCOME   (ROUND  NDMBEES)   1902  (table  8) ' 


From  arc  iiglitinp: 

From  incandescent  .......... 

From  all  other  electric  service 
From  all  other  .'sources 


Private 
stations 


$22, 091,  (XX) 

41,:«6,0(X) 

13, 960, (XX) 

1,.t8."),000 


Municipal 
stations 


$:i,:i89,000 

3,360,0C0 

88,000 

128.000 


'U.  S.  Census  olHce.    Special  report  on  central  electric  light  and. power 
stations.  1902,  p.  110. 

Private  stations  receive  more  from  incandescent 
than  from  arc  lighting;  municipal  stations  from 
each  about  the  same.  "All  other  electric  service" 
is  current  for  the  operation  of  stationary  and  rail- 
way motors. 

The  next  table  is  a  comparison  of  the  public  or 
street  lighting  with  the  commercial  (store  or 
house)    lighting: 


IS 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


NUMBEB    OF  LAMPS    IN   SERVICE,    TOTAL    INCOME.   AND    AVERAGE    INCOME 

PEE  LAMP,  1902  (table  9  » 


Private  statioDs: 

Nunibpr  (•{  lamps... 

Tdtal  iucome  ... 

Averaee  iucoiiie  per 

lanp. . .  

Municipal  stations: 

Number  of  lamps... 

Total  inff)me  ...    . 

Average  iucome  per 
lamp 


Arc  L 

AMPS 

Incandescent  Lamps 

Commercia) 

Cotmnercial 

or  ofhfii- 

Public 

or  otlier 

Public 

private 

tervice 

private 

service 

service 

service 

168,180 

166.723 

16.243.8.53 

372.740 

$8,220,151 

a3, 871 ,646 

$.39,039,927 

$2.2.57.927 

$18  i'S 

$83.20 

$2.40 

$6.06 

5,793 

4.-),  002 

1.494. .531 

82.920 

$240,166 

''.$1,149,079 

$2,868,296 

$491,322 

$41.46 

$69.98 

$1.92 

$.5.93 

'U   .S.  Census  office.    Special  report  on  central  electric  light  and  power 
stations,  1«»02,  p.  29. 
-  Value  estimated  according  to  prevailinsr  rates. 

A  careful  perusal  of  these  fig'ures  discloses  the 
fact  that  private  stations  furnish  a  few  more  com- 
mercial arcs  than  public  (street)  arcs;  while  muni- 
cipal stations  furnish  eight  times  as  many  public 
arcs  as  commercial  arcs.  Incandescent  lighting. 
both  by  private  and  by  municipal  plants,  is  over- 
whelmingly commercial ;  but  private  stations  fur- 
nish one-fortythird  as  many  street  incandescents 
as  store  and  house  incandescents.  while  municipal 
plants  furnish  one-eighteenth. 

Street  arcs  pay  private  as  well  as  municipal 
plants  much  more  per  arc  than  commercial  arcs; 
the  same  is  true  of  incandescent  service. 


Mil's ICll'AL  ELECTRIC  LlGHTIXfJ  IH 


FOREIGN   COUNTRIES 


Canada 

There  are  80  nuuiicipal  electric  light  plants  in 
Canada.^  They  are  located  in  the  provinces  as  fol- 
lows : 

British  Columbia  •■' 

Manitoba.     ^ 

New  Brunswick 2 

N.  W.  Territories    .   ^ 

Nova  Scotia .^ 

Ontario ^ 

Prince  Edward  Island r 

Quebec ^ 

Total  ia  Canada ^ 

'Central  station  list,  Mar.  1906. 

Most  of  the  cities  have  a  population  of  less  than 
l(»,i)0(t  except  St.  Thomas.  Guelph,  Glace  Bay  and 
Kingston. 

England 

In  England,  about  two  thirds  of  the  electric  light 
plants  are  owned  by  municipalities.  The  fol- 
lowing table  shows  at  a  glance  the  comparative 
situation  of  water,  gas  and  electric  plants.  The 
fieures  are  in  most  cases  for  1903 ;  Scotland  and  Ire- 
land  are  not  included: 


20 


MUyiCIPAL  ELECTRIC  i^xGHTIXG 


EN-OLISB   ELECTRIC-   LIGHT   I'LAXTS,  1933'  (table  10) 


Public  Pl^^nts       i 

Private  Plants 

No. 
Plants- 

Total 
Capital 

No. 
Plants 

Total 
Capital 

Water 

1,045 
256 
334 
142 

$:i'J0,914,000 
173.919,000 
1.55.728,000 
119,061,000 

251 
454 
174 
1.54 

$197,851,000 

375.348.000 

133,8-.'8.000 

83,660,000 

Gas 

Electricity 

Street  railways 

Tctai 

1,777 

$779,622,500 

1,033 

$790,688,724 

'  U.  S.  Laboi-  bureau.    Bulletin,  Jan.  1906,  p.  5. 

There  are  481  municipal  electric  plants  and  297 
private  electric  plants  in  the  whole  United  King- 
dom.^ Liverpool,  Leeds,  Sheffield,  Birmingham, 
Southampton  and  Glasgow  are  some  of  the  larger 
cities  in  the  list.  Municipal  ownership  has  found 
much  favor  with  the  citizens  of  England,  Scotland 
and  Ireland. 


Municipal  yearbook  of  the  United  Kingdom,  1906,  p.  429. 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


21 


WISCONSIN 


In  Wisconsin,  municipal  electric  lighting  began 
in  1889,  at  which  time  there  were  30  private  plants. 
Since  then  the  growth  has  been  as  follows: 

GROWTH  OF  MUNICIPAL  ELECTEIC  LIGHT  PLANTS  IN   WISCONSIN  (tablollj' 


Year 

No.  of  new 

municipal 

plants 

Total 

municipal 

plants 

Total 
private 
plants 

1889 

1 
1 

2 
.) 
•> 

1 

3 
2 

3 
4 
3 
4 
4 
4 

1 
•> 

4 

6 

8 

9 

12 

14 

17 

21 

24 

28 

.30 

1890 

34 

1892 . 

1893 

47 
52 

1S94 

189") 

6.5 
69 

1897 

88 

1898     

102 

1899 

108 

1900 

1901 

1902 

112 
11.5 
124 

1903 

1904 

igOJ,  Snpt.  ■■' 

40 
46 

115 

1906,  Mar.  '•* 

() 

123 

'  LT.  S.  Census  ofiice.    Special  report  on  central  electric  light  and  power 
stations,  1902.  p.  106. 
-Central  station  list,  Sept.  1905  and  Mar.  1906. 

There  are  in  Wisconsin  (March,  1906)  123  pri- 
t?ate  and  46  municipal  electric  light  plants;  38  of 
the  123  private  plants  and  13  of  the  46  municipal 
plants  are  in  places  of  less  than  one  thousand  popu- 
lation. 

Cities  and  villages  having  municipal  plants 

The  cities  and  villages  in  Wisconsin  that  have 
municipal  electric  light  plants  are  as  follows: 


90 


MUNICIPAL  ELECTRIC  LIGHTING 


MDNICIPAL  ELECTEIC   LIGHT  PLANTS  IN   WISCONSIN  (table  12) 


City  or  Village. 

Poij.  1905 

Date 

begun 

operation 

Cost  of 
plant 

No.  of 
arcs 

No.  of  in- 

candescont 

lamps 

Algoma 

2,010 
1,315 
1,675 
2,675 
l,9l5 
461 
640 
1,635 
1,680 
1,840 
850 
2,;i88 
1,495 
1,820 
2,011 
1,960 
1.0.53 
1,940 
3,390 
612 
687 
663 
3, 220 
2,. 572 
1,090 
6,036 
860 
610 
655 
3,000 
3,010 
2,675 
1,425 
2.. 575 
3,410 
2,635 
2.;i00 
7.50 
2,445 
770 
4,240 
4,640 
875 
4,t)02 
3,110 
700 

1903 

$40,000 
21.000 
15,000 
15,000 
12,000 

24 

8 

18 

20 

10 

6 

8 

3 

1,200 

.\rca(iia 

I..5OO 

Uarrou 

1902 
1889 

""'i90.5  "' 
1903 
189i) 
1905 
1902 
1903 

1,400 

Uajlield'     

Black  KivcT  Falls... 
Blair 

3,000 

1,.500 

600 

Blaucbanl  villa 

Bo.<cobel 

6,000 
18,00U 

450 
2,600 

Ceilarburfr 

Clinton  viile 

12,000 
16,1)00 
20,0UO 

22 
15 
54 

2,000 

Colby 

450 

(Jolumbu.s' 

4,800 

Cuuiborlaud 

lilkborn 

17,. 500 

40 

2  300 

Ifilroy  .       . 

Kvansvillo.    . 

16, UOO 

23. IKK) 

8.000 

35,000 

11 

21 

1.100 

Keuniinore 

1901 

1890"   "" 
1905 
190tj 
190(j 

300 

Florence 

1,.500 

Fort  Atkinson' 

(irantsbuFK 

34 
4 

4,0(X) 
900 

Greenwood  . 

lndepen(iouce 

Hudson- 

92 

8,000 
2,. 500 

Jeifersou  . 

27,000 
15,000 

Kilbouru 

20 
60 

600 

Marshtteld' 

.7,000 

Mazomauii-' 

Mouticello    

1894 
1904 

1905 
1891 
1902 
19a5 

12,  ax) 

8,000 

14,000 

20,000 

42,OtXJ 

70,000 

13.000 

17,000 

40,000 

25,000 

35,000 

9,000 

30,000 

6,000 

25,000 

i       19,000 

1       10,000 

,       70,000 

1      20,000 

600 

Nt-\v  (jlarus 

8 
51 
50 
67 
29 
25 
27 

.500 

New  London'  

Oconoinowoc' 

Flynioutli'   

4,000 
6.000 
4.7tH) 

Princeton 

1.100 

ReedsburK' 

Kice  Lake 

{{iciiland  Cftiitftr 

9,a)0 
1,700 
2,000 

1892 

Kiver  Kails 

Sauk  City    

Sliawano 

1900 
1903 

'""1904" 
1904 

36 

8 

30 

5 

23 
43 
27 
.58 
46 
8 

8,00(J 
4.50 

i..5ai 

SpriuK  Creen 

StouKhtou' . . 

Stur^jeou  Bay 

Thorp  

730 
3,000 
1,800 

1901 
1902 
1900 
1898 

800 

Two  Hi  vers'  ,   

W'aupun 

4,100 
4.. 500 

Whitcliall         

1,0(X) 

'Oijorated  with  water  works. 
-Leased  to  a  private  company. 


■^^^m^^^mmM:: 


